A Merry Christmas Finish

Designer:  JoLo XStitch Boutique
From the 2024 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Issue
Design:  Merry Christmas
Fabric:  16CT White Aida
Floss:  Called for DMC
1st Stitch:  12/02/2024 - Last Stitch:  12/15/2024
For:  ?
I originally started stitching this as a 2027 ornament for my Great Nieces and Great Nephew.  I realized when I finished it yesterday that it is really too big for a tree ornament.  
Notes:  I made lots of changes to this.  I didn't backstitch the boarder as called for.  I didn't add beads and French knots as called for.  I thought it would be way too busy with all that on it and I think it turned out pretty nice.  I guess I will make it into a small pillow for my Christmas pillow display.

 

Finished

 We had some friends over for lunch in late October.  I have a basket in the dining room of little pillows that I stitched in 2020 during the pandemic.  They are inspirational sayings and one of them, which I designed myself, says "If you can dream it, you can do it."  Mary must have picked it up and looked at it several ties.  When she was leaving, I asked i  asked if she would like me to stitch one for her.  She said yes as she would like to install that thought in her granddaughters.  So I stitched 4 of them.  One for Mary and one for each of her granddaughters. 

Designer:  Me and Free Alphabet on the Internet
Design:  If you can dream it, you can do it.
Don't ask why the first pillow is upside down
I stitched these on different scraps of fabric from my stash and 3 of them are stitched in different shades of blue.  When I got to the 4th one, I couldn't stitch another blue design, so I found a variegated thread in my stash and stitched it in that.  The backs are blue polka dot fabric.
These are for Mary Wilson and her 3 granddaughters. 

November WIP's Progress

 

Monet's Irises
I work on this 3 days and then switch to PS April

Prairie Schooler - Songs of the Season
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
I have been doing two threads a day for the last couple of days

Prairie Schooler
April
I work on this 2 days and then switch back to Monet's Irises
That pink house is a bear

I haven't started on December's ornament yet.  I am going to stitch Merry Christmas  by JoLo Xstitch Boutique from the 2024 Just Cross Stitch Christmas issue.  I am going to make some changes as long as it looks OK.  There are beads and French knots and I don't plan to add them unless it looks weird without them.  Then I am going to stitch a back piece that says "To All A Good Night"  I am stitching this design 6 times and it will be the Grands 2027 ornament and the last ornament I stitch for them.  

Back from the finishers

 I send this to Keepsakes in Cincinati, OH to be finished into a flat fold.  It came home yesterday.  I love how it turned out.

Lizie Kate - Dear Santa is fully finished

 I stitched this peace in 2022, and it has languished in the to be finished box ever since.  I decided I wanted to have it finished for this Christmas season.  zi took it another Christmas project out of the box and finished this one.  I couldn't do the other one because I ran out of quilt batting.  

Lizzie Kate - Dear Santa

It's not the best finishing job I have done but it will look OK on the self behind my display of Santas.

2 fully Finishes

 

Designer:  Cross Stitching for Fun (ETSY)
Design:  Lacy Christmas Ornament 2 Cardinals
Fabric:  14CT Bittersweet by Sassy's Fabrics
Floss:  DMC called for
1st Stitch:  10/01/2024 - Last Stitch:  10/09/2024
For:  Our tree

Designer:  Thread Milk Designs
Design:  Statehood Splendor Series - Oregon
Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon
Floss:  DMC 918, 645, 936,3021
1st Stitch:  08/18/2024 - Last Stitch:  08/26/2024
For: Bob and me
I am stitching each state that Bob and I have visited together

These 2 plus several more have been sitting almost finished for the last couple of weeks.  I just needed to sew up the back and then iron on the year tag.  I may try to do one a day, but I will have to stitch the year for each one.   I should get them finished before I get my sewing machine back, so I don't build up more of a backlog.   But before I spend to much time fully finishing these I need to stitch 2 more of "If you can dream it, you can do it" for Mary Wilson's Granddaughters.

That is all for today.

Progress on Monet's Irises

 Yeah  I finished page 3 only 9 more to go.  

Pages 1-3
I finished page 3 on 10/31

My plan for November is to stitch 2 days on PS April, which I started yesterday, and then 3 days on Monet's Irises.  I was doing that in October, but once I finished PS October, I decided to stitch Irises until I finished Page 3.  

Finished stitching 2 Prairie Schooler smalls

Design: Smalls from Book # 164 October Sampler
Fall & Leaves
Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Fabric:  16CT Graceful Grey
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  10/13/2024 - Last Stitch:  10/19/2024
For:  Me  
Notes:  My plan is to make them into small pillows 

My plans are to continue working on Monet's Irises and to start Prairie Schooler Book No 152 April Sampler.  I would also like to stitch a couple of the smalls in this leaflet.    I also need to sit down at my sewing machine and do some finishing.  I have lots that needs to get done like all the state designs and the 2 Cardinal Christmas ornament.  I also have some Christmas finishes I would lie to finish into leaners.  By the way, I sent PS October Sampler to Keepsakes on 10/18/2024 to be finished into a flat fold.  I hope they do as good a job on October as they did on March.  

 

2 fully finished Christmas ornaments

 

Design:  Alphabet Tree
Designer:  JBW
Fabric:  14CT Ivory Aida
Floss:  Colour & Cotton Pine Tree and Ruby and DMC 725
1st Stitch:  09-16/2024 - Last Stitch:  09/26/2024
For:  Cooper & Penelope (Ashley's Children)
Ashley is my hairdresser

2 Finishes

 I have 2 finishes so far this month.

Design:  Laxy Christmas Ornament - 2 Cardinals
Designer:  Cross Stitching for Fun on ETSY
Fabric:  Sassy's Fabric 14 CT Bittersweet Aida
Floss:  DMC called for
1st Stitch:  10/01/2024 - Last Stitch:  10-09-2024
For:  Our Christmas Tree
Notes:  The dyer of this fabric is no longer dying.  I wish she would dye again as I just love her fabrics.  But it has been a long time and the last I heard she had breast cancer.  I still have some 14CT Aida that she dyed.

Design:  October
Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Fabric:  16CT Lambsweool
Floss:  DMC called for
1st Stitch:  08-06-2024 - Last Stitch:  10-08-2024
For:  Me
Notes:  I am sending this to Keepsakes to finish into a flat fold

I Have Some Fully Finishes

 I have 3 small fully finishes.  

Prairie Schooler
Boo

Hands On Design

GobbleOn

Freebie

I Used Free Alphabet to stitch this.  It is a saying I saw on a pillow behind someone being interview on a TV news show

September WIPs

Here is my progress on PS October and Monet's Irises for the month of September.  I work 2 days on October then switch to Irises for 3 days then back to October and on and on it goes.

Prairie Schooler - October

I should have this finished by October 15th

Monet's Irises for the month of September.  I am working on page 3

Back from the finisher

 I got these two FFOs back from the Carolina Stitcher, Faye Riggsbee yesterday.  I just love them and don't want to put them away until I decorate for Christmas.

The pillow finish is Prairie Schooler Santa 2023
The flat fold is PS Santa 1994

Monet's Irises

 Page 2 is complete.  It took me 2 months and 11 days to complete page 2

Now on to page 3.  Only 10 more pages and it will be done.

September Christmas ornament

D4esign:  Hot Cocoa 
from the 2013 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue
Designer:  M Designs
Fabric:  ?  lt was in my stash
Floss:  Called for except I used B5100 for the white
1st Stitch:  09/01/2024
Last Stitch:  06/06/2024
For:  future Christmas gift

 

I have an FFO

Designer: Little House of Needleworks
Design:  Log Cabin Fox
Fabric:  16CT Natural Lite
Floss:  DMC - I used Blanc for the show rather than Ecru
1st Stitch:  06/02/2024 - Last Stitch:  06/11/2022
For:  Shirley
Notes:  this will be part of her Christmas present.  She and Rich lived in a log cabin in the woods for many years.

 

August Stitching

Prairie Schooler - October
1st Stitch:  08/06/2024
Fabric:  16CT Lambswool
Floss:  DMC called for

Monet's Irises
Page 2 Started - 7/2/2024
I

D4signer:  Thread Milk Designs
Design:  Oregon - Statehood Splendor Series
Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon
Floss:  DMC 918, 645, 936 & 3021
1st Stitch:  08/18/2024 - Last Stitch:  08/26/2024
Notes:  This is the last of the states that Bob & I have visited together.
I e-mailed Thread Milk Designs if they had any plans to design one for Washington DC but she indicated not at this time.

I am currently working to make these states into little pillows.  Everything is cut out.  I ruined one of the interfacing this morning, so I have to cut another one out.  It was for the backing not the actual stitching.  I will cut that out tomorrow and iron it on. Then cut the backings in half and start assembling the pillows.  

My plan for September is to stitch a Christmas ornament and continue to stitch Irises and October.  I think I will rotate them, 2 days on October and 3 days on Irises.  I will probably add some smalls to the mix but I don't have any kitted up at the moment.

An FFO and 2 finishes

 

Prairie Schooler
March
Finished by Keepsakes Cross Stitch in Cincinnati, OH

Designer:  Thread Milk Designs
Design:  Statehood Splendor Series - Ohio
Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon
Floss:  GAST Buckeye Scarlet
1st Stitch:  07/26/2024 - Last Stitch:  08/08/2024
For:  Me
Notes:  25/7 Project

Designer:  Plum Pudding Needle Art
Design:  Let It Snow
Fabric:  16CT Pewter
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  08/01/2024 - Last Stitch:  05/05/2024
For:  Future Christmas Present
Notes:  This is from a Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue but I don't remember which year

My last Christmas in July Finish

 

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  2024 Yearly Santa
Fabric:  18CT Dirty
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/20/2024 - Last Stitch:  07/25/2024
For:  Me
Notes:  I stitched on this for 6 sessions in May and 4 in July

After I finished this Santa I decided I was tired of stitching Christmas so for the last 4 days of July I concentrated on Monet's Irises.  I stitched and watched the Summer Olympics from Paris.  I got quite a bit finished on Page 2 but I do have a mistake that I am trying to find.  Yesterday being August 1st I started my August Christmas ornament.  I also started Thread Milk's Splendor State of Ohio.  I have been using Ohio as my 25/7 project.

2nd Christmas in July Finish

 

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  Book 71 - Songs of the Season - Deck The Halls
Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/13/2024 - Last Stitch:  07/20/2024
For:  Me maybe
Notes:  I stitched on this for 6 days in May for May Mondays & 6 days in July for Christmas in July.

Two Finishes

 I finished my Christmas in July project for the week of July 8th and my 25/7 project.

Designer: Hands on Design
Project:  Gobble On
Fabric: Orange 14CT Aida
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  ?
Last Stitch:  07/14/2024
For:  Me

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  1994 Yearly Santa
Fabric:  18 CT Dirty
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/06/2024 (This was a May Monday Start - I stitched in it for 5 days in May)
Last Stitch:  07/14/2024 (this was my Christmas in July project for the Week of July 8th.  I only intended to stitch on it for 5 days, but I was so close to a finish I stitched on it both Saturday and Sunday until it was finished.
For:  Me

July's Christmas Ornament

 I'm participating in Christmas in July.  I will work on one Christmas project each week for 5 days, Monday through Friday.  I started my July ornament on July 5th and finished it on July 6.   Had some life prob1ems during the week so I couldn't finish it in 5 days.  My other 4 projects are 2 Prairie Schooler Santas and 2 Songs of the Season by Prairie Schooler.  I started these 4 projects in May working on each one for a week.

Designer:  The Caron Collection
Design:  Blue Noel
from JCS 2013 Ornament Issue
Fabric:  White 18CT Aida
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  07/01/2024 - Last Stitch:  07/06/2024
For:  Future year Christmas present
Notes:  I would like to stitch this again but using red or a variegated red but what do I do about the snowflakes.  I don't want them in red 

I have also started Page 2 of Monet's Irises.  Not a lot of stitched but every stitch is closer to a finish.

Monet's Irises

 In April I was looking at counted cross stitch patterns on ETSY and I found this one, Monet's Irises.    I didn't have any intention of buying it.  I told Bob about it and he said to go ahead and buy it.  So I did.  What convinced me was I had already started and finished around 28 projects so far this year.  Some of them are gifts but still what am I going to do with all those counted cross stitch projects.  I already have a box of things that need to be fully finished.  So, a large full coverage project is just the thing.  This will be a companion piece to Bridge in Monet's Garden which I finished and is hanging in our rec room.

May I present "Monet's Irises" page 1

Design:  Monet's Irises
Fabric:  18CT grided white
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  04/29/2024
Last Stitch Page 1:  07/01/2024

Yes I know I am crazy.  Oh, by the way I started Page 2 yesterday and stitched 26 stitches.  For the month of July, I plan on working on this 25 minute a day Monday through Friday and then on the weekends I will try to put a couple of hours in each afternoon.

I am participating in Christmas in July Stitching.  I have 4 Prairie Schooler designs that I started in May plus a July Christmas ornament.  I plan on stitching on them Monday through Friday, one each week for the month of July.

June's Christmas ornament is finished

 

Designer:  Little House of Needleworks
Design:  Log Cabin Fox
Fabric:  16CT Natural Lite
Floss:  DMC - I substituted DMC Blanc for the snow
1st Stitch: 06/02/2024 - Last Stitch:  06/11/2024
For:  Shirley in honor of the log cabin she and Rich owned 

2024 Christmas ornaments fully finished and ready for Christmas delivery

 I finally finished fully finishing my 2024 Christmas ornaments.  If I must say so myself I think they are pretty cute.  Not perfect but cute.  

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  A Merry Mini Suprise + one from a freebie card
Fabric:  18CT Vintage Country Mocha - stitched 1 over one.
Floss:  DMC
I stitched these 1 per month starting late 2023 and finished the last one on March 26, 2024
For:  6 are for 2024 Christmas presents for my great nieces and nephew.  I think one will be for my tree.

A Fully Finished Birthday Gift

 My oldest sister, Barb, turns 90 on June 9th.  I charted this birthday wish using Free Alphabet on the Internet.  Fully finished it into a pillow.  I will include it in the birthday present I am sending her.

I needed another space between the e and the 9 but didn't notice it until I had the stitching all done.  Wasn't going to frog all that so I just left it.  

May Stitching

 I started a lot of things in May.  I did a new start each Monday.  and stitched on a few other things along the way.  And I have been FFOing my 2024 Christmas ornaments.  I actually have one completely FFO's and the rest of them started.

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design - Book 125 - Merry Mini Suprise - Lantern
Santa

This is something I designed for Barbara.  I used a Free Alphabet from the Internet.  I plan on stitching a few flowers on either side of her name.  I will add her birthdate and then make it into a pillow.  She will turn 90 on June 9th.  This must be finished in the next couple of days and made into a pillow so I can get it mailed to her in time for her birthday.

Design:  Irises in Monet's Garden
I bought this chart off ETSY
Fabric:  18CT Eazy Grid white
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch - 04-29-2024
This is a full coverage that will take me years and years to stitch.
The pattern is very hard to read and so far, I haven't been able to download it into Pattern Keeper which would make it a whole lot easier to stitch

Designer:  Jan Hicks Creates
Design:  Carolyn's Balloons - Autumn
Fabric:  Colour & Cotton 18CT Renaissance
Floss:  DMC called for
1st Stitch:  04/19/2024
Notes:  I have made so many mistakes on this project.  There are three other seasons, but I don't think I will be stitching them.  I don't think Quakers are my cup of tea.  I like the finished project I just don't like all the frogging I end up doing.

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design: 2024 Yearly Santa
Fabric:  18CT Dirty Aida
Floss:  DMC called for
1st Stitch:  05/20/2024
Notes:  This was my 3rd May Monday start.
I have no idea when I will get back to this.  Maybe I will make it one of my Christmas in July projects

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  Book 81 - Songs of the Seasons - Deck the Halls
Fabric:  18CT Silver Moon
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/13/2024
Notes:  My 2nd May Monday start

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  1994 Yearly Santa
Fabric:  18CT Dirty Aida
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/06/2024
Notes:  This was my 1st May Monday Start.  

Designer:  Prairie Schooler
Design:  Boox 81 Songs of the Season - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
Fabric:  Silver Moon
Floss:  DMC
1st Stitch:  05/25/2024
Notes:  My 4th and final May Monday start

I stitched for a week on each of the 4 May Monday starts.  I don't know when I will get back to my May Monday starts.  Like I said above I may hold off on stitching them again until July when I will do Christmas in July.  Or I may stitch on each of them one day a week.  I need to finish the pillow for Barbara this week and I should finish Carolyn's Balloons in the next couple of days.  Once I finish the Balloons I want to start on Prairie Schooler October.  I also have to start my June Christmas ornament but that will wait until I finish Barb's pillow.  I also want to finish FFOing the 2024 Christmas ornaments so I can get them off my plate.  It shouldn't take me long now that I have the designs attached to the backing boards.  I just have to glue on the felt backing and then the bows and hangers.